Angled electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An angled connector and a method for mounting the same, having first connector means ( 20 ) extended in a first direction and second connector means ( 29   a-c ) extended in a angled direction in relation to the first connector means ( 20 ). According to the invention the slanted connector comprises a first part ( 2 ) comprising the first connector means ( 20 ) and a second part ( 21   a-e ) comprising the second connector means ( 29   a-c ) The second part ( 21   a-e ) is connectable to the first connector means ( 20 ) and has a bent form in order to engage the first connector means ( 20 ) in a first direction and provide the second connector means ( 29   a-c ) protruding in at least one second direction angled to the first direction, the second part ( 21   a-e ) having a circuit pattern to connect the first connector means ( 20 ) to the second connector means ( 29   a-c ).

This application claims the benefit of the earlier filed InternationalApplication No. PCT/SE00/02407, International Filing Date, Dec. 1, 2000,which designated the United States of America, and which internationalapplication was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English as WOPublication No. WO 01/39583 A1.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a slanted connector having firstconnector means extended in a first direction and second connector meansextended in a slanted direction in relation to the first connectormeans.

It also relates to a method for mounting a slanted connector havingfirst connector means extended in a first direction and second connectormeans extended in a slanted direction in relation to the first connectormeans.

RELATED ART

In electrical connections and circuits there are sometimes a need forslanted connectors. There are such connectors available today and anexample of the construction of such a connector is shown in FIG. 1. Thisconnector comprises contact pins P18, which are slanted a certain angle.This angle is most often 90°. The bent divides the contact pins P18 intofirst connector means P20 and second connector means P29. This kind ofconnectors is very often provided at printed circuits. The secondconnector means P29 are soldered to a circuit card. In this example thepins forms a four times six matrix. As can be seen from the figure thepins in each row are of different lengths.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,080 describes a press-fit printed circuit boardconnector, which comprises an insulative body in two parts and a seriesof right-angle metal pins. The structure of the connector is such thatthe connector does not require any dedicated tooling for mounting it ona board.

SUMMARY

One of the problems with these today available slanted connectors isthat the production process requires many different tools and workingmoments since different bending tools are needed for bending the pinswith different lengths. The bending of the pins could also result incracks in the pins. Another problem is that the different lengths of thepins result in a time shift of the signals to be transferred due to theresistance in the pins. Yet another problem is that the end positions ofthe slanted pins to be connected to a printed circuit board not areprecise. The different lengths of the pins cause an uncertainty in theposition of the ends of the pins. This uncertainty makes it hard toperform surface mounting of the connector.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the mounting processof a slanted processor.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the true positionsof the pins of a slanted connector to be connected to a printed circuitboard.

Yet another object is to get rid of the time shift of the signals to betransferred.

The above mentioned objects have been achieved by a slanted connector ofthe initially defined kind, which is characterised by

a first part comprising the first connector means;

a second part comprising the second connector means and beingconnectable to the first connector means, the second part having a bentform in order to engage the first connector means in a first directionand provide the second connector means protruding in at least one seconddirection slanted to the first direction, the second part having acircuit pattern to connect the first connector means to the secondconnector means.

This slanted connector is much easier and faster to produce than theones used today since the connector means does not need to be bent.Therefor also the exactness in the positions of the second connectormeans is improved and the risk for cracks in the pins is eliminated.

The objects have also been achieved by a method of the initially definedkind, which is characterised by the following steps:

creating a first part of the connector comprising the first connectormeans;

creating a separate second part of the connector comprising the secondconnector means, the second part having a bent form and receiving meansfor receiving the first connector means along the first direction andhaving the second connector means protruding in at least one wantedslanted direction, the second part connecting electrically the receivingmeans with the second connector means;

mounting the second part on the first part by connecting the firstconnector means to the receiving means;

placing the second connector means on a printed circuit board andsoldering the connector to the printed circuit board.

This method for mounting does not include any bending of the connectormeans and therefor the mounting is quick and easy and the end positionsof the second connector means will be more exact than in today existingslanted connectors.

Preferably the second part is a bent printed circuit board having thecircuit pattern as a printed pattern.

Suitably the second connector means are adapted to be connected to aprinted circuit board.

The second part comprises advantageously two plates, one first plate andone second plate, integrally connected and angled to each other.

Preferably the first plate is provided with through holes for the firstconnector means to fit into.

The second plate could be provided with through holes for the secondconnector means to fit into. Otherwise the second connector means couldbe integrally connected to the second plate, the second connector meansbeing covered with a conducting cover.

Suitable the angle between the first plate and the second plate is aright angle, this implying that the angle between the first connectormeans and the second connector means is right.

The second part could preferably comprise conductors, each conductorconnecting at least one of the first connector means to at least one ofthe second connector means.

Suitably all the conductors have the same length because if theconductors have the same length there is no problem with the time shiftof the signals to be transferred as mentioned above.

The second part could be built up as a multilayer printed wiring board,having more than one layer, each layer containing at least one of theconductors.

Preferably the first part comprises a frame to receive the firstconnector means in supporting through holes providing a firm grip aroundeach first connector means to keep them in a fixed relationship to eachother, each connector means protruding from the frame a distance longenough to make electrical contact with through holes in the second part,when the first and second parts are mounted to each other.

The frame comprises suitably at least one guiding pin protruding fromthe connector in the same direction as the second connector means but agreater distance. This at least one guiding pin guides the connector tothe right position when mounted on a circuit board.

The frame could comprise a cap for a robot to grab for automaticmounting of the connector on the circuit board.

Preferably the frame and the second part, besides the conductors aremade of an insulating material.

The number of first connector means and the number of second connectormeans is preferably the same. This implies that one first connectormeans corresponds to one second connector means.

A component could be provided on the second part, the component beingconnected to one or more of the conductors. The component could forexample be a delay unit, which controls the transferring time of thesignals.

The second plate can comprise two plates integrally connected and angledto each other, this implying that the outgoing pins are protruding intwo different directions.

The angle between the first plate and the second plate could differ from90°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a prior art connector.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the connectoraccording to the invention

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the same connector as in FIG. 2 in aseparated position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the same connector as in FIGS. 2 and3 in a mounted position and also to be mounted on a printed circuitboard.

FIG. 5 shows the same connector as in FIG. 3 but having the slanted partpartly in sections to show the different layers having the connectingstrips.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the connector according to theinvention in a side view cross section.

FIG. 7 shows the same connector as in FIG. 6 in a perspective view fromthe backside.

FIGS. 8a and b show a third embodiment of the connector according to theinvention in a perspective view from different layers.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the connectoraccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 shows a first embodiment of a slanted connectoraccording to the invention and represents the best mode of theinvention. The connector comprises a first part 2 and a second part 21a. The first part 2 comprises a frame 3 made of an insulating materialand, in this example, twenty-four incoming pins 20 as the first kind ofconnector means. The frame 3 comprises two plates 5 and 7 beingintegrally connected to each other so that they have an angle inrelation to each other. In the shown embodiment they are mounted atright angles to each other, but the angle could be varied. The incomingpins 20 are in this embodiment all of the same length, but it is commonthat for instance six of the pins 20 are longer than the rest. The pins20 are mounted in through holes 15 in the plate 7. The size of thethrough holes 15 is adapted to the size of the pins 20. The holes 15 arepreferably provided with some kind of gripping arrangement so that thepins 20 are fixedly positioned. The plate 7 has also a certain thicknessin order to support and grip the pins 20 firmly in their positions.

The connector is intended to be mounted on a printed circuit board 9 andis therefor provided, at the end of the plate 7 opposite to the plate 5,with two guiding pins 17 a and 17 b adapted to be placed in guidingopenings in the board 9, one of the guiding openings 10 a being visiblein FIG. 4. The guiding pins 17 a, 17 b protrude in the direction of theplate 7 and are positioned along a line perpendicular to the incomingpins 20. The number of guiding pins could of course be varied.

The plate 5 is thinner than the plate 7 and has the purpose to shieldthe pins 20 against mechanical damage. Thus the plate 5 is placedparallel to the pins 20 and has a longer extension than the pins 20 intheir incoming direction. The end of the plate 5, which is connected tothe plate 7 is provided with a cap 19 for a robot to grab when theconnector is automatically surface mounted on the printed circuit board9. The cap 19 is here shown to be shaped like a section of a circle butcould of course have other shapes adapted to be grabbed by a robot. Alsothe other side of the plate 5 has some cuts 8 provided near to grooves(not shown) for guiding a connecting part into the connector as commonin the art.

The second part 21 comprises two plates 23 a and 25 a being integrally,mechanically connected and angled to each other, the angle deciding howmuch the connector is slanted. In the shown embodiment the angle betweenthe plates 23 a, 25 a is a right angle, but the angle could be varied.

The plate 23 a is intended to be connected to the incoming pins 20protruding out from the plate 7 of the first part 2. It has hencereceiving means, which in the shown embodiment is a through hole 27 perpin 20 positioned to receive each pin 20 individually. Each hole 27 haselectrically leading sides, which could be an electrically leadinglining or the like making electrical contact with the pin 20. Each hole27 has also a size just adapted to the size of the pin 20 in order tohave a good grip together with good electrical contact. This is providedwhen the second part 21 a is mounted on the first part 2, as shown inFIG. 4. In order to make a press fit for good electrical contact theincoming pins 20 could be shaped like the letter H at their endsprotruding from the plate 7.

The plate 25 a is provided with a second kind of connector means herecalled outgoing pins 29 a on the side of the plate 25 a turned towardsthe printed circuit board 9. The number of the outgoing pins 29 a is inthis embodiment the same as the number of the incoming pins 20, but thenumbers could differ. Each of the pins 29 a is in this embodimentconnected with an individual of the incoming pins 20. The pins 29 acould be provided in the same matrix combination as the incoming pins 20and they are in this embodiment each mounted, for example soldered, in ametallized through hole 24 (FIG. 2) for electrical connection. When theconnector is mounted the outgoing pins 29 a from the plate 25 a arepreferably pointing in the same direction as the guiding pins 17 a, 17 bon the plate 7. However the guiding pins 17 a, 17 b are most oftenlonger than the outgoing pins 29 a since they are to be positioned inthe guiding openings, of which one 10 a is visible in FIG. 4, in theprinted circuit board 9. The outgoing pins 29 a could be adapted forwave soldering and should then rest on contact pads 11 on the circuitboard 9 to which the pins 29 a should be soldered. However the pins 29 acould also be adapted to be inserted in holes in the board to besoldered therein, as in somewhat older techniques.

FIG. 5 shows the second part 21 a of the first embodiment of the twoparted slanted connector partly in cross section and in larger scale.Both the plates 23 a and 25 a are divided in four inner layers 31A, 33A,35A, 37A and 31B, 33B, 35B, 37B respectively, i.e. one layer for eachrow of pins 20, 29 a. Each layer in one of the plates 23 a, 25 acontinues in the same layer in the other plate 23 a, 25 a, such thateach layer is slanted. Each connection hole 27A in the first row ofholes for the pins 20 nearest the plate 5 is connected to an individualpin 28A of the pins 29 a in the outermost row of pins 29 a in the plate25 a by a conductive printed connector 30A in the outermost layer 31A,31B. Each connection hole 27B in the row next nearest to the plate 5 isconnected to an individual pin 28B of the pins 29 a in the nextoutermost row of pins 29 a in the plate 25 a by a conductive printedconnector 32A in the next outermost layer 33A, 33B etc.

It is also possible that each connection hole 27A in the first row ofholes for the pins 20 nearest the plate 5 is connected to an individualpin of the pins 29 a in the innermost row of pins 29 a in the plate 25 aby a conductive printed connector in the outermost layer 31A, 31B. Tomake all the connectors equal in length each connection hole 27B in therow next nearest to the plate 5 is connected to an individual pin of thepins 29 a in the next innermost row of pins 29 a in the plate 25 a by aconductive printed connector in the next outermost layer 33A, 33B etc.When all the connectors have the same length there will be no problemwith the time shift as in the old technique.

The second part 21 a is thus a multilayer printed board, which is bentand has through holes 27, 24 through all the layers 31A, 33A, 35A, 37Aand 31B, 33B, 35B, 37B. However the outermost surface layer of the plate25 a is a shielding layer hiding the through holes 24 and providing anattractive design of the second part 21 a.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the connector according to theinvention in a side view partly in cross section. It shows only a secondpart 21 b, since the rest of the connector is the same as in the firstembodiment. The second part 21 b comprises, as in the first embodimenttwo plates, 23 b and 25 b, which are integrally, mechanically connectedto each other. In this shown embodiment the angle between the plates 23b, 25 b is a right angle, but it could be varied.

The plate 25 b comprises outgoing pins 29 b, which are integrallyconnected to the plate 25 b and thus made of the same material, which isan insulating material. The outgoing pins 29 b are provided with aconductive cover 41 for making electrical contact to the printed circuitboard 9 when the connector is mounted on the printed circuit board 9.The plate 23 b is provided with holes 27 each having a metal lining 28as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows the same connector as in FIG. 6 in a perspective view. Theview is from the backside and there it could be seen that in thisembodiment each hole 27 is connected to an individual pin 29 b by aconductor 43 provided at a one layer printed circuit board. The numberof the outgoing pins 29 b and the holes 27 could be twenty-four as inthe first embodiment, but for simplicity sake the number shown in thefigure is twelve. The number could even in this embodiment be differentfor the outgoing pins 29 b and the holes 27 this implying that eithereach hole 27 could be connected to a plurality of pins 29 b or each pin29 b could be connected to a plurality of holes 27.

The manufacturing of this slanted connector shown in FIGS. 6 and 7starts with the casting of the plates 23 b, 25 b and the outgoing pins29 b from an insulating material. The plates 23 b, 25 b and the outgoingpins 29 b are thus all integrally connected. Then the plates 23 b, 25 band the pins 29 b are covered with a metal cover. The metal is thentaken away just to leave metal in the holes 27, on the pins 29 b and asconductors between the holes 27 and the pins 29 b. The conductors aremade equal in length to avoid the time shift problem occurring from thegreater resistance for the signals to be transferred in a long conductorthan in a short conductor. In this embodiment the conductors are madeequal in length by connecting suitable holes 27 to each pin 29 b suchthat the distance between the connected holes 27 and pins 29 b always isthe same. Another method is to let the conductors wind when the distanceis short between the hole 27 and the pin 29 b to be connected.

In FIG. 7 it is also shown that a component 56, for example a delay unitcould be integrated on the second part 21 b. The component 56 is thusconnected to one or more of the conductors 43 by connecting pins 57.This kind of component could also be provided in all the otherembodiments. It is also possible to let the second part 21 b operate asa bent printed board provided with a plurality of components making asuitable signal processing of the signals from the incoming pins 20before they are fed to the outgoing pins 29 b connected to the circuitboard 9.

FIGS. 8a and b show a third embodiment of the connector according to theinvention in a perspective view from different layers. In thisembodiment a second part 21 c of the connector is built up of fourdifferent conductor layers as in the first embodiment The profile ofthis embodiment when only one layer is disposed looks like the profilein FIG. 6. The second part 21 c comprises like the second embodiment twoplates 23 c and 25 c integrally, mechanically connected to each other.In this shown embodiment the angle between the plates 23 c, 25 c is aright angle, but it could be varied.

The plate 25 c comprises outgoing pins 29 b, which are integrallyconnected to the plate 25 c and thus made of the same material, which isan insulating material. The outgoing pins 29 b are provided with ametallic cover for making electrical contact to the printed circuitboard 9 when the connector is mounted on it. The plate 23 c is providedwith metallized holes 27 as in the first embodiment. As in the secondembodiment only twelve holes 27 and pins 29 b are shown. The number ofholes 27 and pins 29 b could be varied.

FIG. 8a shows an inner layer 44 of the second part 21 c. This layer 44is similar to the second embodiment but in this embodiment the layer 44comprises conductors 45 connecting only the holes 27 in the first row ofholes for the pins 20 nearest the plate 5 with the pins 29 b in theinnermost row on the plate 25 c.

FIG. 8b shows a second layer 46 in the second part 21 c. Between thissecond layer 46 and the first layer 44 an insulating layer has beendisposed. The second layer 46 comprises in this embodiment conductors 47from each individual of the holes 27 in the row second nearest to theplate 5 to each individual of the pins 29 b in the row next innermost onthe plate 25 c.

In the third layer the third row of holes is connected to the third rowof pins and so on.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the connectoraccording to the invention. Only a second part 21 d of the connector isshown since the first part 2 is the same as in the previous describedembodiments. The second part comprises, as in the other embodiments, twoplates 23 a, 25 d which are integrally connected and angled to eachother. The angle between the plates 23 a, 25 d is here shown to bebigger than 90°. The angle could however be varied. Besides the angle,the only difference from the previous described embodiments is that thesecond plate 25 d is divided into two plates 58, 59 integrally connectedand angled to each other. In this shown embodiment the angle is rightbut it could be varied. Here it is shown that one of the four rows ofthe outgoing pins 29 a is connected to the plate 59 and thus protrudingin a different direction than the outgoing pins 29 a in the other threerows. The number of the outgoing pins 29 a connected to plate 58 and 59respectively could be varied. This fourth embodiment could of course beimplemented in all the other embodiments.

Although the invention is described with respect to five exemplaryembodiments it should be understood that modifications could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the attachedclaims. Accordingly, the invention should not be considered to belimited to the described embodiments, but defined only by the followingclaims, which are intended to embrace all equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An angled connector having a housing with first connector means (20) extended in a first direction and second connector means (29 a-c) extended in a angled direction in relation to the first connector means (20), characterised by a first part (2) comprising a first housing part and the first connector means (20); a second part (21 a-e) comprising the second connector means (29 a-c) and being connectable to the first connector means (20), the second part further comprising a second housing part that is a one piece member holding the second connector means, the second housing part having a bent form in order to engage the first connector means (20) in a first direction and provide the second connector means (29 a-c) protruding in at least one second direction angled to the first direction, the second housing part having a circuit pattern to connect the first connector means (20) to the second connector means (29 a-c).
 2. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the second part (21 a-d) is a bent printed circuit board having the circuit pattern as a printed pattern.
 3. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the second connector means (29 a-c) are adapted to be connected to a printed circuit board (9).
 4. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the second housing part (21 a-e) comprises two plates, one first plate (23 a-d) and one second plate (25 a-e), angled to each other.
 5. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the first plate (23 a-d) is provided with through holes (27) for the first connector means (20) to fit into.
 6. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the second plate (25 a, 25 d, 25 e) is provided with through holes (24) for the second connector means (29 a, 25 c) to fit into.
 7. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the second plate (25 b, 25 c) is a one piece member with integral second connector means the second connector means (29 b) being covered with a conducting cover (41).
 8. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the angle between the first plate (23 a-d) and the second plate (25 a, 26 b, 25 c, 25 e) is a right angle, and the angle between the first connector means (20) and the second connector means (29 a-c) is right.
 9. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the second plate (25 a-d, 25 e) comprises two plates (58, 59) integrally connected and angled to each other so that the outgoing pins (29 a-c) are protruding in two different directions.
 10. An angled connector according to claim 4, characterised in that the angle between the first plate (23 a) and the second plate (25 d) is not a right angle.
 11. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the second housing part (21 a-e) comprises conductors (30A, 32A, 43, 45, 47, 63), each conductor (30A, 32A, 43, 45, 47, 63) connecting at least one of the first connector means (20) to at least one of the second connector means (29 a-c).
 12. An angled connector according to claim 11, characterised in that all the conductors (43, 45, 47, 63) have the same length.
 13. An angled connector according to claim 11, characterised in that the second housing part (21 a, 21 c) is built up as a multilayer printed circuit board, having more than one layer (31A, 31B, 33A, 33B, 35A, 35B, 37A, 37B, 44, 46), each layer containing at least one of the conductors (30A, 32A, 45, 47).
 14. An angled connector according to claim 11, characterised in that a component (56) is provided on the second part (21 a-e), the component being connected to one or more of the conductors 30A, 32A, 43, 45, 47).
 15. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the first housing part (2) comprises a frame (3) to receive the first connector means (20) in supporting through holes (15) providing a firm grip around each first connector means (20) to keep them in a fixed relationship to each other, each connector means (20) protruding from the frame a distance long enough to make electrical contact with through holes (27) in the second housing part (21 a-e), when the first and second parts (2,21 a-e) are mounted to each other.
 16. An angled connector according to claim 15, characterised in that the frame (3) comprises at least one guiding pin (17 a, 17 b) protruding from the connector in the same direction as the second connector means (29 a-c) but a greater distance.
 17. An angled connector according to claim 15, characterised in that the frame (3) comprises a cap (19) for a robot to grab for automatic mounting of the connector on a printed circuit board (9).
 18. An angled connector according to claim 15, characterised in that the frame (3) and the second part (21 a-e), besides the conductors (30A, 32A, 43, 45, 47) are made of an insulating material.
 19. An angled connector according to claim 1, characterised in that the number of first connector means (20) and the number of second connector means (29 a-c) is the same.
 20. The angled connector according to claim 1 wherein the first and second housing parts are connected and wherein when the angled connector is mounted to a printed circuit board, the first housing part is mounted to the printed circuit board substantially simultaneously with the second connector means being connected to the printed circuit board.
 21. A method for mounting an angled connector having a housing and first connector means (20) extended in a first direction and second connector means (29 a-c) extended in a angled direction in relation to the first connector means (20), characterised by the following steps: creating a first part (2) of the connector comprising a first housing part and the first connector means (20); creating a separate second part (21 a-e) of the connector comprising the second connector means (29 a-c), the second part further comprising a second housing part that is a one piece member holding the second connector means, the second housing part (21 a-e) having a bent form and receiving means (27) for receiving the first connector means (20) along the first direction and having the second connector means (29 a-c) protruding in at least one slanted direction, the second housing part (21 a-e) connecting electrically the receiving means (27) with the second connector means (29 a-c); mounting the second part (21 a-e) on the first part (2) by connecting the first connector means (20) to the receiving means (27); placing the second connector means (29 a-c) on a printed circuit board (9) and soldering the connector to the printed circuit board (9).
 22. A method according to claim 21, characterised in that the creating of the second part (21 b, 21 c) comprises casting the second connector means (29 b) together with the second housing part (21 b, 21 c) in an insulating material and covering the second connector means (29 b) with a conducting cover (41).
 23. A method according to claim 21, characterised by providing at least one guiding pin (17 a, 17 b) on the first part (2), the guiding pin (17 a, 17 b) being adapted to be seated in at least one guiding opening (10 a) when the second connector means (29 a-c) are placed on a printed circuit board (9).
 24. A method according to claim 21, characterised in that the electrical connecting of the receiving means (27) and the second connector means (29 a-c) is provided by creating a bent, multilayer, printed board having electrical conductors (30A, 32A, 45, 47) in different layers (31A, 31B, 33A, 33B, 35A, 35B, 37A, 37B, 44, 46), the printed board defining the second housing part.
 25. A method according to claim 24, characterised by connecting a component (56) to one or more of the conductors (30A, 32A, 43, 45, 47, 63) in the second part (21 b).
 26. A method according to claim 21, characterised by providing the receiving means (27) of the second part (21 a-e) as through holes formed in the second housing part having electrically leading sides, each having a size adapted to engage an individual of the first connector means (20) protruding from the first part, the through holes (27) of the second part (21 a-c) being positioned in the same configuration as the first connector means (20) in the first part (2).
 27. A method according to claim 21, characterised by providing the second connector means (29 a-c) in two different directions.
 28. The method according to claim 21 wherein the second housing part is placed on the printed circuit board substantially simultaneously with placement of the second connector means on the printed circuit board. 